Manuel "Lito" Mercado Lapid (; born October 25, 1955) is a Filipino actor, director and politician serving as a Senator since 2019, and previously from 2004 to 2016. He started his political career in Pampanga, serving as vice governor from 1992 to 1995, and governor from 1995 to 2004.
Early life and education Lapid was born in Porac, Pampanga on October 25, 1955. He is the fifth child out of nine children of Jose Songco Lapid and Eleuteria Mercado. He completed his elementary education at the Porac Central School in 1968 and secondary education at St. Catherine's Academy in Porac in 1972. He did not enroll for his tertiary education as he pursued acting.
Acting career Lapid entered the film industry as a stuntman, and became an actor. He is the nephew of Jess Lapid and the cousin of Jess Lapid Jr. His appearance in The Jess Lapid Story got him noticed in the film industry.
Political career
As provincial governor In the 1992 general election he ran under the opposition block Nationalist People's Coalition as vice governor of Pampanga, and defeated the incumbent vice governor Cielo Macapagal-Salgado.
In 1995, he ran for governor of Pampanga under the same party against Governor Bren Guiao, who had the support of former President Corazon Aquino, and won. When he sought a second term in 1998, Lapid joined the administration party Lakas-NUCD. After the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada in 2000 and the second EDSA Revolution the following year, he ran again for his final term and won.
He decided to run as mayor of Angeles City, in the 2004 elections but abandoned his plans when he was encouraged to run as a senator.
In 2009, Lapid and his son Mark Lapid faced plunder charges for allegedly not remitting P500 million in quarrying fees while they were governor of Pampanga. Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez cleared Lito and Mark Lapid of the plunder charges in 2011, in what has been described as a "midnight order" signed a month before Gutierrez's resignation. Gutierrez resigned in April 2011 amid allegations of protecting former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her political allies.
Fertilizer fund scam In 2014, the Ombudsman found Lapid liable for the purchase of P5 million in overpriced fertilizers, through funds allegedly diverted to the 2004 election campaign of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. According to the Ombudsman, the Pampanga provincial government under Lapid bought 3,880 liters of overpriced fertilizer at P1,250 per liter without public bidding, violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Government Procurement Act, and the Revised Penal Code. The Fertilizer Fund scam case was the eighth graft case filed against Lapid before the Ombudsman.
In 2015, Lapid was charged for graft over his alleged involvement in the 2004 Fertilizer Fund scam while he was governor of Pampanga. The case was dismissed in 2016 by the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court due to the "inordinate delay" in the investigation, but the Supreme Court reversed the dismissal in 2019.
Senate
During the 2004 Senatorial elections, then-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo encouraged Lapid to run as a senator under the administration coalition K4. He accepted the offer and won the election where he placed eleventh. During his first term, he ran for mayor of Makati in 2007, but lost to incumbent Mayor Jejomar Binay; thus, he kept his Senate seat.
In May 2010, he was re-elected as senator, placing 11th in the overall ranking. He ran under the Lakas–CMD but subsequently left the party in 2012 and served until 2016 as an independent. He was chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism and Cooperatives. As he was ineligible to seek another re-election to the Senate, Lapid ran for mayor of Angeles City in 2016, but lost to incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.
Lapid's office acknowledged that P5 million of his pork barrel was used in 2011 to purchase anti-dengue innoculants for Polillo, Quezon. The funds were allegedly misused as part of the pork barrel scam, since there were no reported cases of dengue fever in Polillo in 2011.
Lapid sought for a comeback to the Senate in 2019 and won, placing 7th overall. He earned his third nonconsecutive term.
Lapid was re-elected as senator in 2025 and was a part of the Administration Slate, Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas. He placed 11th overall.
Personal life Lapid is married to Marissa Tadeo, with whom he has four children including Mark. Lapid also has a child with former supermodel Melanie Marquez and another, actress Ysabel Ortega with former singer, Michelle Ortega.
Electoral history + Electoral history of Lito LapidYearOfficePartyVotes receivedResultTotal %.Swing1992 Vice Governor of PampangaNPC 1st 1995Governor of Pampanga432,932 1st 1998Lakas 1st 2001501,23892.22%1st 2004Senator of the Philippines10,970,94130.90%11th 201011,025,80528.90%11th -2.00 2019NPC16,965,46435.87%7th +6.97 202513,394,10223.35%11th -12.52 2007 Mayor of Makati Lakas22,46110.09%2nd 2016 Mayor of Angeles City Lingap Lugud45,71033.83%2nd
Filmography Film YearTitleRole1968Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot1972Geronimo1973Ang Alamat ni Leon Guerrero1975Nagmula sa LupaTotoy1976Mrs. Eva Fonda, 161976Enter the Panther 1978 The Jess Lapid Story Jess Lapid 1979 Bruce the Super Hero Rocky Robledo 1979 Batang Salabusab 1979 Alas at Reyna 1979 Death Has No Mercy 1979 Lipulin... Masasamang Loob (Highway Patrol) 1979 Ang Sisiw Ay Isang Agila1980Ang Pagbabalik ni Leon GuerreroLeon Guerrero1980Kastilyong BuhanginOscar1980Diego Sta. CruzDiego Sta. Cruz1980Yakapin Mo 'Ko, Lalaking Matapang1980Kalibre .451981Viva SantiagoAguinaldo1981Kamaong Asero1981San BasilioJulio Valiente1981Tatlong BarahaLeon Guerrero1982Isaac... Dugo ni AbrahamIsaac1982Ang Tapang para sa Lahat!1982Anak ng Tulisan1982Isla Sto. Nino1982Hanggang sa Wakas1983Pedro TunasanPedro Tunasan1983Gamu-gamo sa Pugad LawinAlberto1983The GunfighterTejan 1984 Barakuda 1984 Zigomar Zigomar 1984 Lukas Lukas 1984 Da Best in the Da West 1984 Alakdang Bato Donato 1984 Angkan ng Siste Reales 1984 Mga Walang Daigdig 1984 Julian Vaquero Julian Vaquero 1985 Abandonado 1985 Ben Tumbling: A People's Journal Story Ben Tumbling 1985 Walang Katapat 1985 Hari ng Gatilyo 1985 Calapan Jailbreak 1985 Sa Bawat Hahakbangan, Babaha ng Dugo Danilo Saberon 1986 Macho Gigolo Manny Agbayani 1986 No Return, No Exchange Abe 1986 Asong Gubat Geron 1986 Kamagong Manuel 1986 Desperado 1987 Maruso Romeo Maruso 1987 Cabarlo Fred Cabarlo 1987 Barbaro Santo David Manabat / Elias dela Cruz 1988 Akyat Bahay Gang Ricardo "Carding" Dacanay 1988 Ex-Army Lt. Emil Matriano 1988 Sa Likod ng Kasalanan 1989 Tadtarin ng Bala si Madelo Lt. Thomas Madelo 1989 Jones Bridge Massacre (Task Force Clabio) Lt. Col. Aladdin Dimagmaliw 1989 Sgt. Melgar Sgt. Rodolfo Melgar 1990 Ibabaon Kita sa Lupa! Joaquin Salazar 1990 Kahit Singko, Hindi Ko Babayaran ang Buhay Mo David 1990 Karapatan Ko ang Pumatay! -Kapitan Guti Capt. Guti 1990 Walang Piring ang Katarungan Sgt. Fidel Ronquillo 1991 Hindi Palulupig Romano Magtanggol 1991 Lt. Jack Moreno: Medal of Valor – Habang Nasusugatan Lalong Tumatapang Lt. Jack Moreno 1992 Dudurugin Kita ng Bala Ko Reden Verdadero 1992 Lacson, Batas ng Navotas Narsing Lacson 1993 Gascon, Bala ang Katapat Mo Capt. Florencio Gascon 1993 Aguinaldo Gov. Rodolfo Aguinaldo 1994 Geron Olivar Geron Olivar 1994 Macario Durano Macario Durano 1995 Ikaw Pa Eh, Love Kita Sgt. Esteban Samonte 1995 Hanggang sa Huling Bala David 1995 Sa Iyo ang Pampanga, Akin ang Bulacan 1995 Escobar: Walang Sasantuhin Capt. Salvador Escobar 1996 Tolentino Ramon Tolentino 1996 Hindi Lahat ng Ahas Ay nasa Gubat 1996 Tapatan ng Tapang Paul 1996 Da Best in da West 2: Da Western Pulis Istori Larry Lopez 1997 Tapang sa Tapang Dante Parcon 1997 Kasangga Mo Ako Hanggang sa Huling Laban Benjo Aragon 1998 Alamid: Ang Alamat Alamid (Old) 1998 Lisensyado Capt. Aladin Esguera 1999 Tatapatan Ko ang Lakas Mo Rommel Cruz 1999 Ako'y Ibigin Mo... Lalaking Matapang Leon 1999 Largado Attorney Randy Reyes 2000 Fidel Jimenez: Magkasubukan Tayo Capt. Fidel Jimenez 2000 Patigasan 2000 Pasasabugin Ko ang Mundo Mo 2000 Huwag Mong Ubusin ang Bait Ko! Sgt. Rolando Serrano 2000 Eskort Angelo 2001 Masikip Na ang Mundo Mo, Labrador Capt. Ramon Labrador 2001 Bukas, Babaha ng Dugo Felix Mercado 2001 Dugong Aso: Mabuting Kaibigan, Masamang Kaaway Barangay Chairman 2002 Lapu-Lapu Lapu-Lapu 2006 Tatlong Baraha Leon Guerrero 2017 Ang Panday Apo 2018 Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles Sgt. Domingo 2021 Mang JoseInkredibol Diego 2022 Apag Alfredo Tuazon TBA Untitled Brillante Mendoza film
Television YearTitle RoleNotes 2013 Little Champ Leon "Amang" del TorroMain Role 2017–2019 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Romulo "Leon" DumaguitMain Role / Protagonist 2023–2025 FPJ's Batang Quiapo Supremo "Primo" C. MedinaMain Role / Anti-Hero / Protagonist
References
External links
Senate of the Philippines - Lito Lapid